The Ultimate Fighter 2 was the second season of the mixed martial arts reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. The season featured a heavyweight and a welterweight division, with 9 fighters initially in each division. The UFC coaches for this season were welterweight and middleweight champions Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin. Season 1 coach and former UFC champion Randy Couture hosted and designed the team challenge segments, which if won would allow the winning team to pair a fighter from their team against another in elimination matches. The finale aired on November 5, 2005, and it set a ratings record for the UFC with a 2.0 overall rating. This season featured no coaches' fight because Hughes and Franklin had refused to fight each other, owing to their friendship. Although released on DVD in 2005, it has been set for re-release on September 18, 2007. For many years, Season 2 was the only season where all fights that took place were considered as professional MMA bouts by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, this has recently been changed and they are now considered to be exhibition bouts. Cast Coaches Matt Hughes, head coach of blue team Rich Franklin, head coach of green team Fighters Team Franklin Welterweights : Jorge Gurgel, Marcus Davis, Anthony Torres, Melvin Guillard Heavyweights : Keith Jardine, Seth Petruzelli, Rashad Evans, Brad Imes Team Hughes Welterweights : Joe Stevenson, Josh Burkman (Jason Von Flue), Sammy Morgan, Luke Cummo Heavyweights : Mike Whitehead, Dan Christison, Rob MacDonald, Tom Murphy Unassigned Kenny Stevens, Kerry Schall, Eli Joslin. * Burkman was replaced by Von Flue due to injury on episode 2. Others Hosts: Dana White, Randy Couture Narrator: Mike Rowe Episodes Episode 1: A New Crop (Original Air Date: August 22, 2005) Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin are introduced as the new coaches. Heavyweight Kerry Schall is eliminated due to a knee injury. Eli Joslin chooses to leave the show, citing his reasons as not being able to handle the camera environment at the house. Kenny Stevens is chosen as the weakest welterweight and calls out Sammy Morgan to fight. Stevens forfeits his match saying he will not be able to make weight for the fight. Episode 2: The Teams Are Picked (Original Air Date: August 29, 2005) Dan Christison joins the show to replace the injured Schall. A coin is flipped and Franklin chose to pick the first fighter. Team